Sadly though it’s a time when many gardens are neglected, briefly, but sometimes that’s all it takes for a plant death or two. 

Many plants are ok with being left for a while but if you’re off for an extended period of time it’s important to get someone in to water your garden.

Christmas is the time when some plants are at their best.

One of the nicest is an Australian plant called Ceratopetalum gummiferum. 

Commonly known as the NSW Christmas bush, this tall shrub/small tree puts on a display around Christmas – though this year I think it will be a tad later, maybe mid to late January. 

This shrub is fairly ordinary for most of the year but in late spring it’s covered with small white flowers. 

The bud section of the flower, called the calyx, remains behind when the petals fall. 

Each calyx will enlarge and start to colour up as the weather heats up. 

Eventually the whole plant will be a pink/red mass of colour.

There are a number of varieties available and they will successfully grow in a good-sized pot for a couple of years. 

They would make an ideal Christmas present for any garden enthusiast.

They could even be used as a Christmas tree, bring them inside for a few weeks each year and when they end up getting too big – plant them in the garden. 

This plant likes a well-drained soil and it must have a sunny position, a shady spot won’t produce the vivid colour. 

Keep it well-mulched and ensure it has regular summer watering until it’s reasonably established. 

Once it has a bit of size, branches can be cut at Christmas time to use as decoration in the home, the flowers last well when cut.

There are a number of potted plants that would be great as a living Christmas tree. 

The New Zealand Christmas tree, Metrosideros excelsa, flowers in December with lots of bright red flowers.

This plant is also great in tubs but it will eventually need to go in the ground. 

Conifers are traditional species used for Christmas and they do the job well, and nowadays the nurseries have a huge range of plants to choose from. 

Visit a local nursery and see what varieties and plants are available.

Always remember that people who love gardening enjoy getting plants as a Christmas present.

The Agriculture/Horticulture Department at the Wodonga TAFE campus would like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.